SEOUL, The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday submitted a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into the controversial departure of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup as top envoy to Australia despite being a suspect in a probe into the death of a Marine. Rep. Park Ju-min, DP's senior vice floor leader, and two other DP lawmakers handed in the special counsel legislation to the National Assembly earlier in the day. The bill calls for an "investigation into the presidential office, the foreign and justice ministries that are suspected of involvement in former Minister Lee's flight abroad," Park said. The move came a day after the DP said it will seek to impeach the foreign minister and justice minister to hold them responsible for Lee's exit from the country despite an ongoing corruption probe in which he's a suspect. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials has been looking into allegations that Lee exerted undue influence on an investigation into the deat h of a young Marine last year. Lee left the country Sunday to take office as ambassador to Australia, two days after an exit ban on him was lifted. A controversy has flared up over his appointment as the top envoy and the departure, with the DP claiming that they amount to helping a suspect flee overseas. The presidential office said it did not know of the investigation and the exit ban before naming Lee the envoy. The DP vowed to look into the entire process of Lee's appointment when it convenes a session of the Assembly's standing foreign affairs committee later this week. "We will hold a standing committee session to get to the truth and take action against all of those involved, including the foreign and justice ministers, as well as seeking a special counsel and considering impeaching the ministers," DP whip Hong Ihk-pyo told reporters. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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